Folding mechanism



June 29, 1937. H. T. sccrrI FOLDING MECHANISM Filedoct. 1e, 1934 5 Sheets- -Sheet 1 June 29, 1937. H. T. scQTT l 2,085,478

FOLDING MECHANIS'M.

Filed oct. 16, 1954 S sheets-sheet 2 June 29,1937. H. T. Asczo'r'r 2,085,478 y FOLDING'` MECHANI SM Filed not. 1e, 1934 5 sheets-sheet s June 29, 1937.

H. T. SCOTT FOLDING MEGHANI SM Filed o'ct; 1e, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIIIl l`.lune 29,1937. H. T. scoTT 2,085,478

FOLDING MECHANI SM Filed 001'.. 16, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patentedv *June* 2,9, 1937 UNlTED STATE FOLDING MECHANISM Henry T. Scott, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to The American Paper Bottle Company, Toledo, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application October 16, 1934, Serial No. 748,566

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to folding mecha- I nism and particularly to mechanisms for folding and closing thefoldabley end portions of tubular containers. The present application is acontinnation in part of my earlier application, Serial N0. 603,861, filed April '7, 1932.

In my application, Serial No. 686,300, filed August 22, 1933, is disclosed and claimed a container fabricated of paper, and coated both exteriorly and interiorly with a liquid proofing substance such as paraffin, the container being primarily intended for the packaging, storage and dispensing of liquids. It is fabricated of relatively stiff paper, is square in cross section and 15. has an extension which is as disclosed, divided into panels by means of score lines and which extension is adapted to be collapsed or folded after `the container has been charged to close the end-thereof. In the complete operation of closing the foldable end portion of the container, it'is desirable that the integrity of the panels be maintained and that these panels be relatively folded only aion'g the score lines specifically pro' vided for that purpose when the blank was originally cut. In my copending application, Serial No. 748,561, filed October 16, 1934, is described a mechanism ,for performing a preliminary operation upon the foldable end of the container, this mechanism effecting by its operation a partial fold along the score lines, or a redefinition of the score lines, an operation particularly desirable where the container as a whole has been impregnated with parafn and thereby considerably stiifened. In this redeflnition of the score lines of the end closure all or a portion only of the score lines4 may be redefined but in any event a suicient redenition of the score lines is realized to render the container end more readily collapsible by the means which comprises the subject matter of thepresent application.

The container disclosed in the application previously referred to includes, in its foldable end portion, not only a plurality of panels hingedly connected together along the score lines but also two end flaps and it is desired that, in the closing operation, one of these end flaps be inserted into the mouth of the container` and the other turned over so as to overlie the rst mentioned flap and also the several plies of paper which are gathered togetherin the closing operation to form what may be designated a' central transverse rib. The present invention embodies a plurality of folding instrumentalities which are primarily designed and constructed. for the manipulation ofthe end as has been disclosed in my copending application and by means of which this operation may be rapidly and accurately carried out in an automatic manner. Nevertheless, the principles of the invention may be embodied in machines which vary widely in the design and arrangement ofv their component elements and which are well adapted to effect the closure ofthe foldable or collapsible ends of tubes or containers of various designs and sizes. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated by Way of .example in the acompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an' end elevation of the closure folding mechanism;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Figures 6 to 11 inclusive are views, rather diagrammatic in section, which portray the several movements of the folding members of the appaf ratus which these members perform in sequence in effecting the complete closure of a container; Figure l2 is a perspective view of the foldable end of a tubular container of the type disclosed in my copendingvapplication above referred to and which the mechanism now to be described is primarily intended to act upon;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the upper end y of a container which is ready for closing; and

Figure 14 is a perspective View of the upper end of a closed container.

The container, partially illustrated in Figure 12, is formed of relatively stiff paper and is square in horizontal section, its bottom being closed' and ther entirek container being coated with paraffin exteriorly and interiorly. Its foldable end closure is indicated generally at C in Figure 12 and is seen to comprise a-plurality of panel sections P which meet along score lines S. When in this condition the end closure is relatively stiff and, prior to charging, it is desired that the score lines be redefined, either wholly or in part, by subjecting the panels to pressures which tend to move them into different .planes while at the same time maintaining the integrity of the panels by confining the Aiiexure entirely to the score lines or hinge lines. A mechanism for redefining the score lines is vdescribed in my copendig. application, Serial 748,561, led October 16, 1934, and after the score lines are thus redefined the container end closure may have the appearance indicated in Figure 13; The container may then be charged with a liquid or with a. solid after which closure panels'and-end flaps of a container such it is necessary to effect the final .complete closure 55 of the container by collapsing inwardly two opposing side sections of the foldable extension and folding downwardly upon these previously collapsed side sections the remaining two side sections, the upper edges of all four side sections being gathered together to form a central transverse rib and the two end flaps being folded down to lie parallel with the plies of paper which comprise this rib. It is the function of the present apparatus to receive containers having end closures of the general type illustrated in Figure 12, and which closures have been subjected to a preliminary score redefining operation so that they are reduced to the condition shown in Figure 13, and to then act upon such closures to produce the closed, sealedcontainer illustrated in Figure 14 which, when completed, is rigid, durable and leak proof.

In'Figure 6 of the drawings means for performing the first operation of folding is illustrated. It will be perceived that the' container is supported in such manner that its foldable upper end extension lies between opposing folding members. sides of the container are disposed in planes substantially parallel to the planes of movement of the folding members and its foldable sides are positioned so as to be directly acted upon by these folding members, the end flaps I and II being upward continuations of the foldable sides. The base of the container may be supported in any suitable manner but preferably rests upon supporting rails I 2 and is preferably securely held between gripping members I3 forming parts of a conveyor chain I4 by means of which it may be moved with a step by step movement. For a more full and complete description of the container supporting and advancing means, reference may be had to my copending application, Serial 748,565, led October 16, 1934. Folding members are indicated at I5 and I6 respectively and a flap inserting member is indicated generally at I1. It is by the conjoint action of these Vthree members that the preliminary folding operation is performed. 'I'he first member to act is the flap inserting finger I'I. This member comprises a horizontally extending flap bending and guiding portion I8 rigidly affixed to the upper end of an operating arm I9 the lower end of which arm is rotatably supported for movement about a fixed axis. By mechanism hereinafter to `be described the arm may be given a swinging or rocking movement about stud 20. Its initial rocking movement, after a container is positioned as shown in Figure 6, is in an anticlockwisedirection and the leading edge of its portion I8 immediately strikes the outer surface of flap II, defiectng this flap into the position shown in Figure 6, the flap bending readily about the score line intermediate its base and the upper edge of the foldable side wall of the end extension. The movement of the ap inserting finger is continued and, when it reaches the position in which it is shown in Figure 7, the flap II is moved into substantially horizontal position, In the meanwhile and by means of other mechanism to be later described movements of the two bending members I5 and I6 have been simultaneouslyA initiated, these bending ngers contacting with the upper edges of the side walls of the foldable extension and the extreme upper end I8' of the bending member I6 having contacted and partially deflected the outer foldable flap I0. The simultaneous movement of folding members I5 and I8 is continued and the for- It is so positioned that the collapsible ward movement of ap inserting finger I9 halted so that the flat under surface of the portion I8 of this nger comprises a guide for flap II. This continued motion of the folding members I5 and I6 causes downward deflection of the foldable side walls of the foldable container ex'- tension and introduction of the flap II into the rapidly closing mouth of the container, as shown in Figure 8, the edge of flap II being guided downwardly by the inclined inner surface of the side wall opposite to that to which it is attached,` as shown in Figure 8. In Figure 8 it will be observed that the flap inserting finger I9 has been retracted as it is no longer necessary for this member to function as a. guide for the flap II and inasmuch as it is also desirable to remove the flap engaging portion I8 of this member to avoid interference with the upper end I6 of the folding member I6. Simultaneous downward movement of the folding members I5 and I6 is further continuedA until the upper edges of the sidesl ofthe foldable extension meet as shown in Figure 9, the container top being thus closed, the flap II being entirely enclosed within the same while the nap I0 still rests against the extension I6 of folding member I6. In order to fold ap I0 downwardly, a flap folding and pressure applying member or grooved roller 2|] is caused to descend vertically from its retracted or full line position (Figure 9), to its operative or dotted line position. The roller 20 functions While folding members I5 and I6 are still in their operative positions, as shown in Figure 9 and the ilap I0 is deflected downwardly thereby to its dotted line position, at least the end positions of the flap I0 are so positioned, one edge of one end portion being indicated in dotted lines in Figure 9, the centralportion of this flap being pressed tightly against the inclined upper surface of the container. Naturally clearance must be provided to permit the downward movement of roller 20 to contact with the container while the members I5 and I6 are 'still in contact therewith and the exact shapes of the several members, whereby this clearance is obtained, will be hereinafter more fully described. After the ap folding and pressure applying member 20 is positioned as shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, the folding members I5 and I6 are rocked simultaneously upwardly and outwardly, the container top then being held entirely by the roller 20 at its top and the holding and supporting means at its bottom. It will be observed from an inspection of Figure 9 that portions of the folding member I5 underlie portions of the container .flap I0. This member however is` formed in two parts, a lower part I5 and an upper part |52, these parts being hingedly connected together in such manner that the part I52 may rotate in a counter-clockwise direction relatively to the part I5 about pivot 2I, but may not rotate in the opposite direction. When member I5 therefore begins its clockwise rotation or retracting movement, part I52 will be Caused to rotate because of the opposition to its movement by the iiap I0, relatively to the part I5 but will eventually be withdrawn from under the flap whereupon part |52 will spring back into alignmentswith part I5' under the influence of spring 22. The functions of the several folding members I5, I8 and I8 have vthen been fully performed and it is necessary to advance the container to a further station to be acted upon by collapsing and rib forming members. When the conveyor is actuated to bring about this transfer the container moves out from under the roller 20 est which is still in its lowermost or container holding' position, and under stationary guide and holdingl members 23 rigidly supported upon the frame. The lower rounded edges of these guiding members 23 press tightly against the sides of the container top to hold it in its collapsed condition, as shown in Figure 10. While still held by guiding members 23` the flat inclined side walls of the container top are acted upon by collapsing members 24 which swing downwardly simultaneously from opposite sides of Athe container, about the axes of shafts 25 upon which they are clamped or otherwise fixed, it being the function of these members to further break down the entire foldable .end closure aboutits several score lines and more particularly to form a central transverse rib by flexing the incline'd side walls of the end extension about the score lines 26C, one of which isindicated in Figure 13 and where, up until this time, little if any flexure has 0ccurred. This further breaking down of the foldable end extension of the container isquickly effected and simultaneously a pressure applying and rib holding'member 26 is caused to descend,

4this member having a plurality of rollers 21 mounted in a longitudinallyl extending recess formed in its lower edge, which rollers bear upon the top of the rib 28 which has just beenv formed upon the container. Member 26 also includes inturned edges 26 which bear against the sides of the rib and prevent spreading of the several plys of paper of which the rib is composed, particularly preventing the outer flap I0 from springing upwardly. Once member 26 has been positioned the collapsing members 24 may be retracted, and are retracted, and the container may then be given a further forwardA movement, as to a machine by means of which a staple or other mechanical fastening device is passed through the several plies of the rib 28 to secure these plies together and effect the permanent closure of the container.

The mechanism for operating the several folding instrumentalities which have just been referred to will nowbe described. All parts are mounted upon a suitable frame which may, have various forms but which, for instance, may include a side frame member 30 and a bridging member 3I. Rotatably supported in suitable bearings upon frame 30 is a main drive shaft 32 and fixed upon this shaft are four cam members indicated at 33, 34, and 36. The cam member 33 forms a part of the means for oscillating the flap inserting finger I9, Abeingoperatively connected to this finger by means of the lever 31 fixed on shaft 38, lever 39 secured upon the opposite end of this shaft and carrying ,a segment 4I] and the rack 4I one set of teeth of which mesh with segment 40 and a second sei-of teeth, disposed at right angles thereto, meshing with a segment 42 carried by the hub 43 upon which hub the lower end of the flap inserting finger is also mounted. Obviously, therefore, rotation of cam 33 causes swinging motion of lever 31, lever 31 carrying a roller 44 `which extends into the camway formed in cam 33, oscillation Vof shaft 38, rocking of lever 39, reciprocation of rack 4| and oscillation of hub 43 and hence of the folding finger. As will be observed from an inspection of Figure 3, the flap inserting finger is an L- shaped member, the anvil portion I8 of this finger being horizontally disposed and overlying the upper end of folding member I5, so that there are no interferences between members I5 and I9 at any ,tima

Both folding members I5 and I6'are operated from cam 34 the roller 45 lying within the camway of this cam being carried upon the lower end of an arm 46 the upper end ,of which is fixed upon a shaft 41 so that rotation of cam 34 results in oscillation of shaft 41. Shaft 41 in turn carries two toothed segments 48 and 49 the teeth .of these segments meshing with mating teeth formed upon vertically reciprocable racks 58 and 5 I Rack 50 is provided with a second set of teeth disposed at right angles to those which mesh with segment 48 the teeth ofl this second set, or second rack meshing with. teeth of segment 52 integral with hub 53, which is the hub upon which the folding member I5 is mounted, member I5 and operate simultaneously at all times and move in opposite directions so as to apply equal pressures to the foldable container end extension in performing their functions.

The flap folding and pressure roller 20 takes its motion from cam 36, this cam effecting rock' `ing movement of bell crank lever 60 one'end of which carries the cam roller 6I. The opposite end of bell crank 60 is connected by a pin and slot connection to the lower end of a vertically reciprocable rod 62 suitably mounted in a bearing 63 attached to the supporting frame. To the upper end of this rod is connected, also by a pin and slot connection, the end of a lever 64, pivotally mounted upon the frame at 65, a segment 66 being mounted upon the opposite end of the lever 4the teethl of which mesh with the teeth of a vertically slidable rack 61. The flap folding and pressure applying roller 20 is rotatably carried in a bifurcated supporting member 68 attached to the lower end of rack 61.

The pressure applying and rib holding member 26 takes its motion from the face cam 35. Thus a vertically reciprocable .rod 10, slidably mounted in the frame 3i, carries at its lower end a cam roller 1Iv whichrrests upon cam 35. Rotation of the cam therefore brings about vertical reciprocation of rod 18 and the' movements of this rod are communicated to member 26 by means `oi. the lever 12, pivotally supported at 13 and having one end connected to rod 10 by a pin and slot connection and the other end connected, also by apin and slot connection, to the upper end of a rod 15 mounted for vertical sliding movement in a suitable bearing rigid with the frame, member 26 being suitably secured to the lower end of this rod. A collar shaft upon rod 15 is indicated at 11 and a. spring 18 encircling rod 15 has its upper end bearing against the stationary frame. The spring 18 therefore functions to normally mainveo tain rod 15 in elevated position and to therefore maintain c'am roller 1I in tight engagementwlth cam 35. Naturally the several cams and the connecting linkages, racks, segments and levers are so designed and constructed as to produce the'desired coordinated movements of the various folding and holding members in the normal operation of the device. From an inspection of Figure 4 it will be readily perceived that the folding members I5 and I6 are so designed as to provide the necessary clearance for4 the descent of roller 20 into contact with the container top, the rockable portion I52 of member I5 and the upper end of member I6 being, in effect, bifurcated to provide a central aperture through which roller 20 may descend to contact with the container.

Inasmuch as both collapsing members 2| and also folding members i5 and I6 are xedly supported upon shafts 25 the collapsing andfolding members will be simultaneously operated when shafts 25 are rocked. While folding members I5 and I6 are acting upon the top of one container therefore, to close the same, the collapsing members 24 are simultaneously acting upon the previously closed top of the adjacent container. 'Ihe collapsing members are so designed and constructed that the ends thereof cooperate in effecting a substantial compression of the base of the rib lying betw'een their adjacent ends, as these members roach the limits of their downward rocking movements. 'I'he angles between the base of the rib and the inclined sides of the bottle top are therefore clearly defined and sharpened, compression of the rib base in this manneralso compacting the same by pressing the several plies thereof into intimate contact, thus stiffening the rib.

As shown in the drawings, particularly in Figures 6 to l0 inclusive there is mounted on folding member i6 a stop 90 which lies in front of a container which has been moved into position to be acted upon by the folding elements, that is, the corner of the container comes to rest against the stop 90 when the container is properly positioned for folding. Cooperating with this stop is a bracket member 9| mounted on a chain, one

' the closing means.

link of which is indicated at 92, this bracket having constantcontact with the rear wall, of the container adjacent the diametrically opposite corner, as it moves along the machine toward Chain 92 is fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 748,565, filed October 16, 1934. As the container moves into final positionjust below the closing elements it strikes stop as aforesaid and by the conjoint action of stop 90 and bracket 9| it is squared and erected if, by any chance, it has twisted slightly about its vertical axis within the gripping members engaging the same near its bottom, or if it has accidently been tilted forwardly from the vertical.

While stop 90 will intercept an unclosed container, as shown in Figure 6, when folding member i6 isin inoperative position, it will not intercept a closed container when in this position and hence will not interfere with the movement of a closed container toward the collapsing arms 24.

Having'thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Container end closing mechanism comprising opposed movably mounted container panel engaging and folding members, a container end flap engaging and deilecting member, and means for actuating said members in timed relationship Vwhereby the end flap deiiecting member is actuated prior to the panehfolding members.

2. Container end closing mechanism compris-1 ing means for engaging the projecting end nap of a tubular container and downwardly deflecting the same toward the interior of the container, and means for folding inwardly opposing side walls of the container to enclose said end nap.

3. Container end closing mechanism comprising a flap engaging and inserting finger, means wardly and inwardly folding those side walls Aof the foldable end to which the end aps are secured, said means also folding over the remaining end flap.

' 5. The method of folding the foldable end -closure of atubular container of square cross' section, said container being fabricated of relatively stii paper and the foldable end having four sides each of which is divided by score lines into panels, two opposed sides thereof having longitudinal score lines and being collapsible and the other two having lateral score lines'only and being foldable, which comprises acting upon the vfoldable sides to flex the same bodily inwardly, the

coll-apsible sides being simultaneously collapsed and, after the foldable sides are caused to meet centrally of the container, again acting upon the foldable sides to fold them upon laterally extending score lines, the adjacent panels of the sides being brought into parallelism to comprise members of a central transverse rib.

6. The method of closing a stiff paper container which comprises folding opposite side walls bodily toward each other until their upper edges meet, thus forming a peak, and thereafter bringing similar sections of said side walls adjacentthe peak line into parallelism to vform a central transverse rib.

'7. In mechanism of the class described, container moving and supporting means, container end folding members positioned to act upon containers carried by said supporting means, and means for correcting the alignment of a container mounted on said supporting means as the container reaches a position to be acted upon by said folding members.

8. Mechanism for relatively folding about scored hinge lines the relatively foldable panels of the collapsible end closure portion of a selfsupporting container formed of relatively stiff paper, comprising, means for acting upon and deecting toward the interior of the container an end flap projecting from the edge of one of said panels, means for actingupon the panel to which the end ilap is hingedly connected, and the opposing panel, while said first mentioned means is acting to hold said end flap in deflected position, to swing said panels toward each other to enclose and retain therebetween the said end flap, and means for further acting upon said panels to bring their inner faces into contact with the end flap to thereby form a rib.

9. In mechanism of the class described, in combination, means for gripping the base of a stiff paper container and advancing the samewith a step by step motion, means for acting upon the top of a container to close the same, said means being positioned adjacent the path of travel of the container and adapted to act ,when the container is stationary, and means for correcting the position of the container by moving the same within thel container gripping `means when the container reaches the container closing means.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 in which the last mentioned means includes 'a par mounted on the container `closing means and movable thereby into and out of the path of travel of the container. d

11.- Thecombination set forth in claim 9 in which the last mentioned means includes two c`o-v operating parts one mounted for movement into the path of movement of the upper portion of the l container so as to be contacted by the advancing face thereof and the other being adapted to contact with the following face of the container.

12. Mechanism for closing the end of a tubular container having a foldable end portion, including opposed folding members for acting upon opposite sides of said end portion and bodily folding said sides until their upper edges come into contact midway of the container, and second means for engaging said sides respectively,

between the contacting edges thereof and the tubular container to Vfurther fold said sides and form a central rib.

13. Mechanism for folding the scored end extension of .a tubular container comprising means for inwardly folding two opposed sides of said extension until the upper edges of said sides con- .tact centrally of theA container, and second means for further acting upon portions only of said folded sides to bend said sides about score lines intermediate the container and the line of contact between said sides and parallel to the central line of contact of said sides, thus forming a central rib.

,14. The method of folding the scored foldable end closure portion of a tubular container which comprises` folding simultaneously toward each 35 other two opposing scored side walls until they are brought into line contact centrally of the able and the other two being collapsible, by s core lines, which comprises collapsing the opposing collapsible sides of the end closure by folding the panels thereof relatively to each other, folding the other two opposing sides bodily and without breaking them along the score lines, and there- 'after further breaking down the foldable sides along score lines by the application of opposed forces to form a central transverse rib. 16. In a, mechanism of the class described. the combination with a conveyor of container end folding means, rib forming means, of means Afor applying axial pressure upon a container rib subsequent to its formation, which means positively supports the rib against lateral distortion.

17. -In mechanism of the class described, container end folding means for forming a peaked end structure, means for acting upon said peaked structure to form a centrally ribbed structure, a conveyor for supporting the bottom of a container and moving the same from one such means to the other, and means 'for supporting and maintaining the peaked structure as it is moved into position to be acted upon by said rib forming structure, said` last mentioned means including a grooved roller.

HENRY T. SCO'I'I. 

